Why Film?

by | Jun 25, 2017 | Wedding Photography

Why Film?

Why Film?

Why film you ask? Shooting with film is an artistic decision, part science, part artistic tool. Having film cameras in our “tool box” makes sense to us for three main reasons. The first is that we learned photography using film, (pre digital), why throw away all that knowledge? The second is that the combination of film and film cameras create soft beautiful images, specifically with medium format film, (which is a large negative), and third – it sets us apart from most wedding photographers. These days shooting with film is a niche market, one which we gladly take part in! We feel that strongly about the art of creating the images we’re commissioned to create. Shooting with film does cost a little more, but we feel it’s worth it. It’s as if film breaths life into images as living breathing photographs. Film, as an artistic tool, captures emotionally powerful images with beautiful soft tones. All the film we shoot gets scanned during processing at the lab. A good lab is most important, our lab of choice is the best lab we’ve found, we use Richard Photo Lab. 

What’s in Our Camera Bags?
Since we shoot with both film and digital cameras, we’re considered hybrid shooters. The best of both mediums. Our camera bags are pretty heavy but we love what we can create using different types of cameras. I thought it might be fun to share what equipment we use to create the images we make. We use both film and digital cameras on most of our shoots, we love and understand them inside and out. The film cameras we shoot with are for the most part the Contax 645, the Hasselblad 500CM, the Rolleiflex, Widelux F7 and Holga. We also love and embrace digital as an important tool and photographic advancement. The digital cameras we use are Canon 5D’s. 

Please take a look at the different cameras we use below to learn more about the gear we use and the images we create. After all, it isn’t the camera, it’s the photographer, but having really great equipment helps! The film cameras listed here are no longer produced, and are therefore even more special. Film and film cameras can still be purchased at camera stores. Give them a try! If you have any questions about film cameras, feel free to ask, I may know the answer! You can also follow us on IG at @karenhillweddings. 



FILM CAMERAS


Medium Format Film Cameras:

Contax 645, with an 80mm f2 and a 45mm f2.8 Carl Zeiss Optics Lens

This camera is one of my favorites and in my opinion, is the best camera ever made. This auto focus camera shoots a rectangle, an actual 6×4.5 negative size. There are 32 images per roll on 220 film and 16 images per roll on 120 film. I use 400, 800 or 3200 ISO film.


 

 

 


Hasselblad 500CM, with an 80mm f2.8 Carl Zeiss Optics Lens

This Swedish made camera is a vintage beauty from around the 1960’s. It’s shutter makes a specific loud “kerrrplunk” sound, music to my ears. It shoots a square 6×6 negative, with 24 images per roll on 220 film. This is a completely manual camera, there is no battery which means no light meter. A hand held light meter is a must. It’s Carl Zeiss lens renders images that are extremely sharp and at the same time, a little dreamy. I use 400, 800 or 3200 ISO film. I adore this camera. 

In 1969, a slightly modified Hasselbald went to the moon on the Lunar space shuttle, Apollo 11 when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first people to reach the moon. A little history side note!



This is a photo I took of the actual Hasselbald that went to the moon at the National Air and Space Museum in DC in 2016. A pretty cool geek out moment.

 

 
 
 
 
 

Rolleiflex, with an 80mm 2.8 Carl Zeiss Optics Twin Lens

This twin lens camera is a vintage gem from the 1960’s. The first Rolleiflex was produced in 1929. It shoots a square, 6×6 negative, with 12 images per roll of 120 film. It’s super Carl Ziess lens produces images that are a little bit dreamy. I use 400, 800 or 3200 ISO film. I love this camera. 
 
 

 

 
 
 


Holga

 
The Holga has a plastic lens and one exposure, f8 at a 60th of a second. This camera loves light as much as I do. It shoots a square 6×6 negative, with 12 images per roll of 120 film. Since the lens is plastic, two things happen when you shoot with it, first, the plastic lens makes the image a bit blurry and secondly, when light hits the lens, it causes refraction. Refraction essentially means that when light hits the lens, the light wave is changed and causes light to record in the most curious ways. I find this “accidental light” rendering to be lovely, quirky, dreamy and poignant. The images look like they were shot 100 years ago!
 
 




35mm Film Camera:
 
Widelux F7
 
This panoramic camera shoots 180 degrees with a barrel, rotating lens, which I love because as it makes the exposure, it distorts and bends the image. This camera takes in the whole scene! It has three shutter speeds and is a completely manual camera. No battery means no light meter. There are 20 images on each roll of 36 exposure film. One of my favorites for it’s specific fun style. I use 400, 800 or 3200 ISO film.


 
 
 
DIGITAL CAMERAS
 
High Resolution Digital Camera:
 
Canon 5D Mark III & IV, with the 24-70mm f2.8 ll, a 50mm f2.5 with Macro Focus, and a 35mm f1.4 Lens
 
Super flexible in all types of light, sharp and fast with tons of exposure latitude. We shoot in RAW. Black and White is achieved in post processing. These cameras and lenses are great additions to our camera bags!
 
 
 

 

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